Nitrile biotransformation for highly enantioselective synthesis of 3-substituted 2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylic acids and amides

Biotransformations of differently configured 2,2-dimethyl-3-substitued-cyclopropanecarbonitriles were studied using a nitrile hydratase/amidase-containing Rhodococcus sp. AJ270 whole-cell catalyst under very mild conditions. Although all of the cis-3-aryl-2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarbonitriles appeared inert toward the biocatalyst, a number of racemic trans-isomers efficiently underwent a highly enantioselective hydrolysis to produce (+)-(1R,3R)-3-aryl-2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylic acids and (-)-(1S,3S)-3-aryl-2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxamides in high yields with excellent enantiomeric excesses in most cases. The overall enantioselectivity of the biotransformations of nitriles originated from the combined effects of 1R-enantioselective nitrile hydratase and amidase, with the later being a dominant factor. The influence of the substrates on both reaction efficiency and enantioselectivity was discussed in terms of steric and electronic effects. Coupled with chemical transformations, biotransformations of nitriles provided convenient syntheses of optically pure geminally dimethyl-substituted cyclopropanecarboxylic acids and amides, including chrysanthemic acids, in both enantiomeric forms.     

Nitrile and amide biotransformations for the synthesis of enantiomerically pure 3-arylaziridine-2-carboxamide derivatives and their stereospecific ring-opening reactions

Catalyzed by Rhodococcus erythropolis AJ270 (whole cell catalyst) under very mild conditions, a number of racemic trans-3-arylaziridine-2-carbonitriles and amides were efficiently transformed into enantiopure 2R,3S-3-arylaziridine-2-carboxamides. While the nitrile hydratase exhibits low selectivity against nitrile substrates, the amidase is highly enantioselective toward 2S,3R-3-arylaziridine-2-carboxamides. Upon the treatment with catalytic hydrogenation, amine, or water in the presence of one equivalent of TFA, the resulting aziridine-2-carboxamides underwent highly efficient and stereospecific ring-opening reactions to produce enantiopure alpha-amino-, alpha,beta-diamino-, and alpha-amino-beta-hydroxy-propanamide derivatives in high yields.     

An unusual beta-vinyl effect leading to high efficiency and enantioselectivity of the amidase, nitrile biotransformations for the preparation of enantiopure 3-arylpent-4-enoic acids and amides and their applications in synthesis

Biotransformations of 3-arylpent-4-enenitriles catalyzed by Rhodococcus erythropolis AJ270, a nitrile hydratase/amidase-containing microbial whole-cell catalyst were studied, and an unusual beta-vinyl effect of the substrate on the biocatalytic efficiency and enantioselectivity of the amidase was observed. While 3-arylpent-4-enenitriles and 3-phenylpentanenitrile were efficiently hydrated by the action of the less R-enantioselective nitrile hydratase, the amidase showed greater activity and higher enantioselectivity against 3-arylpent-4-enoic acid amides than 3-arylpentanoic acid amides. Under very mild conditions, nitrile biotransformations provided an efficient synthesis of highly enantiopure (R)-3-arylpent-4-enoic acids and (S)-3-arylpent-4-enoic acid amides, and their applications were demonstrated by the synthesis of chiral gamma-amino acid, 2-pyrrolidinone, and 2-azepinone derivatives.     

Nitrile biotransformations for highly efficient and enantioselective syntheses of electrophilic oxiranecarboxamides

Catalyzed by a nitrile hydratase/amidase-containing microbial Rhodococcus sp. AJ270 whole-cell catalyst, a number of racemic trans-2,3-epoxy-3-arylpropanenitriles 1 underwent rapid and efficient hydrolysis under very mild conditions to afford 2R,3S-2-arylglycidamides 2 in excellent yield with enantiomeric excess higher than 99.5%. The overall enantioselectivity of the biotransformations originated from the combined effects of a dominantly high 2S-enantioselective amidase and low 2S-enantioselective nitrile hydratase involved in the cell. The influence of the substrates on both reaction efficiency and enantioselectivity was also discussed in terms of steric and electronic effects.     

Practical and convenient enzymatic synthesis of enantiopure alpha-amino acids and amides

Catalyzed by the nitrile hydratase and the amidease in Rhodococcus sp. AJ270 cells under very mild conditions, a number of alpha-aryl- and alpha-alkyl-substituted DL-glycine nitriles 1 rapidly underwent a highly enantioselective hydrolysis to afford D-(-)-alpha-amino acid amides 2 and L-(+)-alpha-amino acids 3 in high yields with excellent enantiomeric excesses in most cases. The overall enantioselectivity of the biotransformations of nitriles originated from the combined effects of a high L-enantioselective amidase and a low enantioselective nitrile hydratase. The influence of the substrates on both reaction efficiency and enantioselectivity was also discussed in terms of steric and electronic effects. Coupled with chemical hydrolysis of D-(-)-alpha-phenylglycine amide, biotransformation of DL-phenylglycine nitrile was applied in practical scale to produce both D- and L-phenylglycines in high optical purity.     

Nitrile biotransformations for the efficient synthesis of highly enantiopure 1-arylaziridine-2-carboxylic acid derivatives and their stereoselective ring-opening reactions

Catalyzed by the Rhodococcus erythropolis AJ270 whole cell catalyst under very mild conditions, biotransformations of racemic 1-arylaziridine-2-carbonitriles proceeded efficiently and enantioselectively to produce highly enantiopure S-1-arylaziridine-2-carboxamides and R-1-arylaziridine-2-carboxylic acids in excellent yields. Although the nitrile hydratase exhibits no selectivity against all nitrile substrates, the amidase is highly R-enantioselective towards 1-arylaziridine-2-carboxamides. When treated with benzyl bromide, 1-phenylaziridine-2S-carboxamide underwent a highly regioselective and enantiospecific ring-opening reaction to afford an almost quantitative yield of R-beta-[(benzyl)phenylamino]-alpha-bromopropanamide (C-2 attack) and R-alpha-[(benzyl)phenylamino]-beta-bromopropanamide (C-3 attack) in a 10.5:1 ratio. Further treatment of the resulting ring-opening products with an N-nucleophilic reagent such as amine and azide led to, through most probably the aziridinium intermediate, the formation of S-alpha-substituted-beta-[(benzyl)phenylamino]propanamides in good chemical yields with high enantiomeric purity.     

Application of thin-layer chromatography to investigate oscillatory instability of the selected profen enantiomers in dichloromethane

The usefulness of thin-layer chromatography (TLC) as an efficient measuring technique in the studies of oscillatory trans-enantiomerization of profens from the S to the R configuration (and vice versa) during their storage as 70% ethanol solutions is demonstrated in the literature. S-(+)-ibuprofen, S-(+)-naproxen, and S,R-(+/-)-2-phenylpropionic acid are utilized as the test profens. It is proven possible to show oscillatory instability with the racemic S,R-(+/-)-2-phenylpropionic acid also. Correctness of the TLC assessment is successfully confirmed by means of polarimetry. Upon these preliminary results, it is concluded that the most probable mechanism might embrace the keto-enol tautomerism because of a convenient migration of the proton from one moiety of the profen molecule to another in an aqueous medium. To indirectly verify this hypothesis, profens are stored in dichloromethane, deliberately hampering their ability to dissociate and to re-structure. It is obvious though that the (much less pronounced) electrolytic dissociation can occur in the non-aqueous media as well. It is shown that the non-aqueous solvent considerably suppresses, although they do not completely eradicate, the oscillatory trans-enantiomerization of profens. In view of these findings, the reports which claim a predominant therapeutic potential of the respective S-profens become less convincing and certainly need reconsideration.     

腈的生物转化不对称合成β-氨基酸和β-氨基酰胺

含有腈水合酶和酰胺水解酶的红球菌Rhodococcus erythropolis AJ270能在非常温和的条件下催化一系列β-氨基苯丙腈衍生物的水解反应, 生成相应的β-氨基酸和β-氨基酰胺. 底物结构对生物转化反应的效率及立体选择性影响很大. 3-氨基-3-苯丙腈的生物水解反应显示了较低的立体选择性, 而氮甲基取代衍生物的水解反应则显示了中等立体选择性, 生成相应S构型β-氨基酸和R构型β-氨基酰胺. 氮上大位阻取代基显著降低生物催化效率.     

Enantiodivergent Syntheses of (R)- and (S)-3,5-Dimethylcyclohex-2-en-1-ones from (R)-Pulegone

R-(+)-pulegone (1) is transformed to (R)-5-methyl-2-(phenylsulfinyl)cyclohexanone (5) (65%, 3 steps). Sulfoxide 5 is converted to R-(-)-3,5-dimethylcyclohex-2-en-1-one (4) (53%, 4 steps) and S-(+)-4 (26%, 3 steps).     

The substrate specificity of the heat-stable stereospecific amidase from Klebsiella oxytoca

The substrate specificity of the heat-stable stereospecific amidase from Klebsiella oxytoca was investigated. In addition to the original substrate, 3,3,3-trifluoro-2-hydroxy-2-methylpropanamide, the amidase accepted 2-hydroxy-2-(trifluoromethyl)-butanamide and 3,3,3-trifluoro-2-amino-2-methylpropanamide as substrates. Compounds with larger side chains and compounds where the hydroxyl group was substituted with a methoxy group, or in which the CF₃ group was substituted by CCl₃, were not accepted. The biotransformation is a new synthetic route to (R)-(+)-3,3,3-trifluoro-2-amino-2-methylpropanoic acid, and its related (S)-(−)-amide, and to (R)-(+)-2-hydroxy-2-(trifluoromethyl)-butanoic acid and its related (S)-(−)-amide.     

Toward the development of a structurally novel class of chiral auxiliaries: diastereoselective aldol reactions of a (1R,2S)-ephedrine-based 3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-2H-1,3,4-oxadiazin-2-one

[reaction: see text] Asymmetric aldol addition reactions have been conducted with (1R,2S)-ephedrine-derived 3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-2H-1,3,4-oxadiazin-2-one (2). Diastereoselectivities range from 75:25 to 99:1 for the formation of the crude non-Evans syn adducts 8a-h. The facial selectivity of the enolate is directed by the stereogenic N(4)-methyl substituent. Aldol adduct 8a is readily cleaved by acid hydrolysis to afford (2S,3S)-3-hydroxy-2-methyl-3-phenylpropionic acid (9) in >95% ee.     

Highly enantioselective synthesis of alpha,alpha-disubstituted malonamic acids through asymmetric hydrolysis of dinitriles with Rhodococcus sp. CGMCC 0497

Highly enantioselective hydrolysis of alpha,alpha-disubstituted malononitriles by the strain Rhodococcus sp. CGMCC 0497 expressing both nitrile hydratase and amidase activity to give (R)-alpha,alpha-disubstituted malonamic acids which could be converted to valuable (R)- or (S)-alpha-alkylated amino acids are reported and the yields of the products are improved remarkably at a lower reaction temperature.     

Recognition and simultaneous determination of ofloxacin enantiomers by synchronization-1st derivative fluorescence spectroscopy

Under controlling pH 3, R-(+)- and S-(-)-ofloxacin (OFLX) enantiomers can be well recognized and resolved by the synchronization-1st derivative fluorescence spectroscopic techniques, and the interference from urine blank also can be eliminated. The linear dynamic ranges are 0.36-2.16 (R), 0.36-2.89 and 3.16-31.6 mug/ml (S), respectively, for determining OFLX in urine samples. The limits of detection are 0.36 mug/ml (R) and the recoveries of R-(+)- and S-(-)-OFLX in urine samples are 97-104%. Relative standard deviation is <6.6%. Pharmacokinetic study of OFLX and levofloxacin shows that R-(+)- and S-(-)-ofloxacin reach their peak concentration in urine samples after a healthy subject has taken tablets for approximately 3 and 6 h, respectively. R-(+)-OFLX can be obviously detected in 5-6 h after a healthy subject has taken tablets, indicating the transformation of S-(-)- to R-(+)-OFLX enantiomer in human body (in vitro).     

5-Amino-4,5-dihydroisoxazoles. Part I. 5-Amino-3-aryl-4-methylene-4,5-dihydroisoxazoles and 4-aminomethyl-3-arylisoxazoles from 5-amino-4-aminomethyl-3-aryl-4,5-dihydroisoxazoles

5-Amino-4-aminomethyl-3-aryl-4,5-dihydroisoxazoles 2 were obtained by cycloaddition of nitrile oxides to 1,3-diaminopropenes 1. On reaction with methyl iodide the corresponding 4-(quaternary)-ammoniomethyl iodides 3 were formed. These compounds, on reaction with bases, afforded 5-amino-3-aryl-4-methylene-4,5-dihydroisoxazoles 4. The acid-catalyzed deamination of compounds 2 afforded 4-aminomethyl-3-arylisoxa-zoles 5 and 3-arylisoxazoles as retro-Mannich products. The deamination of 2 to yield 5 was also obtained by base catalysis.     

Regioselective biocatalytic hydrolysis of (E,Z)-2-methyl-2-butenenitrile for production of (E)-2-methyl-2-butenoic acid

Acidovorax facilis 72W nitrilase catalyzed the regioselective hydrolysis of (E,Z)-2-methyl-2-butenenitrile, producing only (E)-2-methyl-2-butenoic acid with no detectable conversion of (Z)-2-methyl-2-butenenitrile. (E)-2-Methyl-2-butenoic acid, produced in aqueous solution as the ammonium salt, was readily separated from (Z)-2-methyl-2-butenenitrile, and isolated in high yield and purity. The combination of nitrile hydratase and amidase activities of several Comamonas testosteroni strains were also highly regioselective for the production of (E)-2-methyl-2-butenoic acid from (E,Z)-2-methyl-2-butenenitrile.     

Practical Synthesis of (+)-Alloisoleucine

Subsequent treatment of N-crotoyl-(1S,2R)-bornane-10,2-sultam with EtMgCl, recrystallization of the product and saponification, afforded R-(-)-3-methylpenthanoic acid which was used for acylation of (1R,2S)-bornane-10,2-sultam. The product was converted into N-[(2S,3R)-2-amino-3-methylpentanoyl]-(1R,2S)-bornane-10,2-sultam by hydroxyamination with 1-chloro-1-nitrosocyclohexane, followed by reduction of the hydroxylamine grouping. Saponification of the sultam imide provided (+)-alloisoleucine.     

Chemistry of Unsymmetrical Quarternary Carbon Compounds III. Synthesis of (-)-Dimethyl 2-Cyano-2-Methylsuccinate and Determination of Its Absolute Configuration

(?)-Dimethyl 2-cyano-2-methylsuccinate ((?)-IIIa) was synthesized from menthyl cyanoacetate ((?)-I), and the absolute configuration of which was elucidated as (S)-configuration by chemical correlation to the known (R)(+)-β-methylterbic acid ((R)(+)-VII). (?)-Dimethyl 2-carbamoyl-2-methylsuccinate ((?)-IV) and (?)-methyl 3-methyl-2,5-dioxo-3-pyrrolidinecarboxylate ((?)-V) are also confirmed as belonging to (S)-configuration and (+)-3-(1-hydroxy-1-methylethyl)-3-methyl-2,5-pyrrolidinedione ((+)-VI) is belonging to (R)-configuration. Preliminary experiments on racemic compounds are also described.     

Enantioselective diene Cyclization/Hydrosilylation catalyzed by optically active palladium bisoxazoline and pyridine-oxazoline complexes

A 1:1 mixture of (N-N)Pd(Me)Cl ?N-N = (S,S)-4,4'-dibenzyl-4,5,4', 5'-tetrahydro-2,2'-bisoxazoline (S,S-4a) and NaBAr(4) ?Ar = 3, 5-C(6)H(3)(CF(3))(2) (5 mol %) catalyzed the asymmetric cyclization/hydrosilylation of dimethyl diallylmalonate (2) and triethylsilane at -30 degrees C for 48 h to form an 8.1:1 mixture of the silylated carbocycle (S,S)-trans-1, 1-dicarbomethoxy-4-methyl-3-?(triethylsilyl)methylcyclop ent ane (S, S-3) (95% de, 72% ee) and dimethyl 3,4-dimethylcyclopentane-1, 1-dicarboxylate (S,S-6) in 64% combined yield. In comparison, a 1:1 mixture of the palladium pyridine-oxazoline complex (N-N)Pd(Me)Cl ?N-N = (R)-(+)-4-isopropyl-2-(2-pyridinyl)-2-oxazoline (R-5b) and NaBAr(4) (5 mol %) catalyzed the asymmetric cyclization/hydrosilylation of 2 and triethylsilane at -32 degrees C for 24 h to form carbocycle S,S-3 in 82% yield (>95% de, 87% ee) as the exclusive product. Asymmetric diene cyclization catalyzed by complex R-5b was compatible with a range of functional groups and produced carbocycles with up to 91% ee. The procedure also tolerated substitution at a terminal olefinic position and at the allylic position of the diene.     

Biocatalytic Synthesis of Highly Enantiopure 1,4-Benzodioxane-2-carboxylic Acid and Amide

Catalyzed by Rhodococcus erythropolis AJ270, a nitrile hydratase and amidase containing microbial whole-cell catalyst, at 10 ℃ and with the use of methanol as a co-solvent, nitrile and amide biotransformations produce 2S-1,4-benzodioxane-2-carboxamide and 2R-1,4-benzodioxane-2-carboxylic acid in high yields with excellent enantioselectivity.     

Enantiospecific high-performance liquid chromatographic analysis of 2-phenylpropionic acid, ketoprofen and fenoprofen

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method has been developed for the quantitation of the R- and S-enantiomers of 2-phenylpropionic acid, ketoprofen and fenoprofen. The assay consists of extracting the arylpropionic acid with an internal standard and measuring the total (R + S) concentration of enantiomers by reversed-phase chromatography, derivatising the chromatographic fraction corresponding to the enantiomers to form R- and S, R-2-phenylethylamide distereoisomers which are resolved by normal-phase chromatography in order to calculate the fraction of each enantiomer. The limits of sensitivity of the assay for 2-phenylpropionic acid, ketoprofen and fenoprofen are 6, 0.2 and 2.5 mg/l, respectively.